Our refresh of the Watchlist rankings gets underway today as we roll out our player recommendations over the next four-to-six Gameweeks. First up, we cast an eye over Goalkeepers and Defenders with Swansea continuing to look potentially profitable, while a pair of Merseyside-based full-backs are also firmly in our thoughts.

Goalkeepers

Swansea stopper Michel Vorm holds steady at the top of the keeper standings with the schedule still smiling kindly upon the Welsh outfit. West Ham, Stoke and Newcastle roll up to the Liberty in the next six, while trips to Cardiff and Fulham also bode well for clean sheet returns – Michael Laudrup’s side showed last weekend against Sunderland they can still produce the goods without Ashley Williams. Although the centre-half remains doubtful, and Ben Davies is out for four weeks, Vorm’s save point potential is always a likely to bolster his appeal if the Swans concede. While Europa League commitments were expected to play a part, Vorm has been immune to rotation and has started every league game so far. The only caveat here appears to be the availability of Neil Taylor as a short-term option in defence for just 4.4 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Simon Mignolet is another non-mover as Liverpool’s schedule hands them a chance to pick up the clean sheets again. The Reds have now conceded in each of their last five but three very kind home games (WBA, FUL, NOR) and a trip to Hull in the next six give plenty optimism to Mignolet’s owners. The shift to 3-4-1-2 dents his appeal somewhat, though, with Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique/Aly Cissokho offering out of position potential in midfield.

With a single goal conceded in the last five, Artur Boruc’s incredible form shows little sign of abating. Southampton’s 1-1 draw at United highlighted their resilience and despite games against Arsenal and Chelsea in the next six, his owners will be confident – the superior bonus point potential of the Saints centre-halves and Nathaniel Clyne’s cheaper price tag are the only slight negative factors at play.

Norwich’s John Ruddy is hoping for an upturn in resilience – home games with Cardiff, West Ham and Palace in the next five should offer the Canaries a chance to improve upon a run of one clean sheet in five. Villa’s Brad Guzan remains in this week’s top five, with two clean sheets in four. Paul Lambert’s side also benefit from a kind run of matches and Guzan has certainly proven the best route into his side’s defence thus far – he currently holds a 10-point lead over any backline option in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) but at 5.0, is pricier than his team-mates, who offer value in the budget bracket.

Hull’s Steve Harper has two home games (SUN, CPL) in the next four which could help extend a record of a single goal against in four at the KC Stadium. Coming in at a mere 4.0, he looks set to get the nod for Steve Bruce’s side now that Allan McGregor has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a thigh injury.

Wojciech Szczesny does just enough to keep him bubbling under but there’s no doubt Arsenal have struggled at the back – nevertheless, despite just one clean sheet thus far, the Pole has still racked up more points than any defensive team-mate. Jussi Jaaskelainen is hoping to benefit from an upturn in schedule, with the Hammers stopper set for four favourable fixtures in the next six.

As the most secure route into the United defence, David de Gea has games against Stoke, Fulham and Cardiff in the next four to pick up in performance after a disappointing start to the season for the champions at both ends of the pitch. Three clean sheets in the last six have helped Asmir Begovic climb to fourth in the FPL keeper standings – the Stoke stopper has three home games in six (SOT, SUN, CAR) which look particularly profitable and, with Marc Wilson having lost his starting role, there is no longer a cheap route into Mark Hughes’ rearguard.

Defence

Swansea’s Chico scales to the very summit after an assist and clean sheet against Sunderland last time out. As mentioned above, the schedule is very kind to Michael Laudrup’s side and with injuries affecting two of the Dane’s first-choice backline, Chico looks a safe pick for those looking to invest in the Welsh outfit. Again, Neil Taylor is the alternative. At 4.4, he clearly has merit, although on Ben Davies’ return from injury, there will be uncertainty at play.

Handed a spot on the right of Liverpool’s midfield upon his return from injury last week, Glen Johnson immediately arrives on the radar. While Jose Enrique seems set for increased competition on the opposite flank, Johnson (at just 5.7 and with an ownership of 5%) looks a far more secure starter and with a very favourable run to follow, offers plenty hope of returns at both ends of the pitch.

Leighton Baines remains in the top three in this week’s defender rankings as Everton gear up for a run that hands them three home games and trips to Villa and Palace in the next five. Granted, two of those Goodison encounters are against Tottenham and Liverpool but Baines’ dead-ball ability and delivery from the flank have proven key to his returns time and again.

Branislav Ivanovic continues to get the nod as our Chelsea defender of choice. The likes of John Terry and David Luiz are both cheaper and have far less ownership than the Serbian – thus offering greater differential appeal – but Ivanovic continues to offer the most impressive goal threat amongst Jose Mourinho’s backline, with chances of points at both ends of the pitch looking prosperous in light of Chelsea’s schedule.

The cut-price appeal of Nathaniel Clyne keeps the Saints right-back in this week’s top five. Sitting at 4.5 in FPL (compared to Dejan Lovren’s 5.4) Clyne welcomes Fulham, Hull and Villa to St Mary’s in the next six and also rolls up to the Britannia – his raiding runs down the right could come to fruition as he continues to look outstanding value.

Tottenham’s tricky run sees Jan Vertonghen drop a little but our faith in the Belgian remains steadfast. With Vlad Chiriches handed his first league start last week, Michael Dawson’s guarantee of game time is perhaps questionable when Danny Rose returns from injury – Vertonghen’s owners will be keen for a return to the centre after he moved to left-back in the 2-0 win against Villa; he had earned bonus in all four of the games his side had previously registered a clean sheet but failed to do so against the midlands outfit.

Priced at 4.4 and 4.5, respectively Michael Turner and Curtis Davies are nailed-on for Norwich and Hull ahead of some enticing fixtures and look decent budget options in light of their home schedules. With Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand remaining doubtful for weekend returns at home to Stoke, Patrice Evra comes into consideration here. The Frenchman’s security of starts is key here – at 6.4 he’s anything but budget-friendly; if Jonny Evans can nail down a starting berth, he’s certainly one to consider at 5.0.

Winston Reid offers the more secure route into a West Ham backline that has produced four clean sheets in eight. With a goal and four bonus points also to his name, the 5.0 priced centre-half remains the man most likely to pick up points at both ends of the pitch for the Hammers’ kind run, though Razvan Rat is now down to 4.5 and has started each of the last four. Coming in at 4.5, Antonio Luna’s raids from left-back could come to fruition ahead of two home games and trips to West Ham and West Brom for Villa in the next four.

Mark Hughes’ decision to drop Marc Wilson from his XI last week brings Robert Huth in as our Stoke cover. The big German has offered plenty goal threat and proven a menace in the opposition box without quite reaping reward – similarly priced to Ryan Shawcross at 5.5, Huth has remained firmly under the radar and has a current ownership of just 2% to his defensive partner’s 11%.

Further down, Aleks Kolarov rears his head as a risky but potentially explosive differential in a City defence that looks far from secure. The Serbian’s attacking potential giving him a foothold in our rankings. West Brom’s Liam Ridgewell could see a significant rise if the Baggies pass their Anfield test this weekend having conceded just twice in their last four, while Cardiff’s Ben Turner remains a strong 4.0 option at the bottom end of the scale. Hull pairing Abdoulaye Faye and Liam Rosenior remain his rivals in this respect. While we prefer Curtis Davies’ goal threat, there’s no getting away from the value offered by the 3.9 duo, although their security of start will be in question on James Chester’s return.